The Ministry of Interior’s Relief Fund launched a Community Media Campaign, under the slogan “Facilitate their Release”, to promote the spirit of solidarity and social cohesion. The campaign also aims to motivate individuals and community sectors to donate money, in order to lift the burden off debt-laden individuals, or those bound by legal blood money (diya); and other inmates of correctional and punitive institutions, to enable them to return to their natural, warm family life and reunite them with their families to ensure a decent life, stability and security for all.
Major General Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Office of H.H Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, Chairman of the Board of the Relief Fund, stressed the keenness to implement the directives of Lt. General His Highness Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior, to provide the necessary requirements for security and social stability; through the stability of the family in our society.
He said that through its slogan, this humanitarian campaign motivates the public and sectors of society in general to contribute in overcoming the obstacles facing insolvent inmates, enabling them to return to their families after paying their dues; and assessing the financial circumstances that forced them to stay in prison after serving their sentence.
He added: “This campaign includes many community and media events, via the website of the Relief Fund, and social network sites, to increase human interaction with this important sector in our society, particularly with the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan, which opens the doors to charitable and humanitarian deeds; which are one of the basic features that distinguish the UAE society.
Moreover, Major General Al Nuaimi said: “In order to facilitate communication between the public and the various community sectors to collect donations for insolvent inmates; a plan was established, to publish advertisements in print and audiovisual media, and to provide the possibility for donations via customized moneyboxes through offices and "stands" in a number of malls in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, as well as providing short messaging services, "sms", through selected phone numbers according to the financial donation.
The Organizing Committee was also keen to deploy advertising boards introducing the campaign, to urge the public to donate for insolvent inmates, in the most important sites in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Chairman of the Relief Fund stated that family is an integral part of society, saying: “If a member of the family commits a misdemeanor, it does not mean that the family should be banished from society. On the contrary, this family must be embraced by the community, to prevent it from becoming an easy prey to circumstances, in the absence of the head of the family or its provider, based on the spirit of social solidarity for society members.
He added that the UAE ‘s attention to the "inmates" category stems from the tolerant principles of Islam, which calls for giving, compassion and helping the needy, reaffirming the principles of social solidarity. Therefore, the Relief Fund was established and publicized, for its significant role in the penal and correctional institutions and society programs, since lawlessness and committing criminal acts are not an individual issue; their impacts and negative consequences affect the offender's family members, and may lead them to crime. This calls for lending a helping hand to these families, to embrace them socially and help them psychologically and morally.
At the end of his speech, Major General Al Nuaimi urged do-gooders to cooperate with the Fund in order to achieve its objectives in promoting